MovieChat Forums > The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story (2014) Discussion > Dustin Diamond

Dustin Diamond

posted 10 years ago by Occult_Detective
33 replies | jump to latest

You know what I think Dustin Diamond's problem is? First of all, he was two years younger than everyone else and yet he was expected to be as mature as they were. That's a lot of pressure for a kid, because he wasn't just being told to 'act his age,' he's being told to act two years older than he was. And I mean, he wasn't playing Zack or Slater, he was the geek. I have a feeling he was treated as such on and off screen. Maybe the cast teased him, which as an adult he probably would have shrugged off. but as a kid, you're so much more sensitive. He likely took some of their jokes to heart as real ridicule. While the rest of the cast was dating each other, and no one wanted him because it would have been like dating the kid. I can understand his feeling of being left out.

I think above all else, he just wanted to be an equal. but he never quite was. And because this was his entire childhood, he didn't just grow out of it. It was all he knew. So he grew up sort of bitter, leading him to sort of come out as an jerk, a slob, rude and obnoxious to try and shed that geeky Screech persona. Bad mouthing the rest of the cast, writing a book that bashes them all (which now he says he didn't write) making a porno (which now he says he didn't do.) I think there is a truth and reason to why he is the way he is, but it's yet to be told.

This recent SBTB movie was from his perspective, but was honestly really tame compared to his book. It showed the kids teasing and picking on him, but no drug use or anything. Honestly, I think this movie was his apology to them for all the stuff he's pulled in the last decades. Showing that all in all, they were just teenagers. Teenage stars no less with rising egos. But nothing they did was ever *personal,* and I think he's finally coming to terms that. He definitely could have handled it all better though, because he made it really hard for anyone to like him.

[–] theworldastage 10 years ago

I agreed with you in another thread and I'm applauding you now. You have a very good assessment of the situation. That is generally how I see it too.

Though most of the cast will probably ignore the movie - burned bridges and all. Elizabeth, Mario, Lark and Dennis publicly said they're not interested in watching (and I doubt any of the others will), plus Dennis says Dustin (they were/are friends) isn't taking responsibility for any of his actions (i.e. Dustin's book - see quote below).

People probably think it's solely based on Behind the Bell, which makes sense, because I briefly thought it was too. But it was confirmed by at least three of the actors on the movie (in a video interview) it is taken more from various interviews and other behind the scenes stuff/sources.

ETA: I think it would be safe to say that although the movie is from Dustin's point of view, it definitely does not depict the extreme nature of the book. And then there's this...

Dustin Diamond (ABC News):

The Lifetime movie is going to be based on my book in the way that it's a behind-the-scenes look, but my book was written by a ghost writer, and they tried to milk the negativity. It wasn't supposed to be a dirty tell-all.

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

Oh thanks, I didn't see your reply! But yeah, that's the general feel I get, not just now, but even when I watched the show as a kid. There were moments when Screech would be teased and if even only for a split second, you could see a look on Dustin's face where he just wanted to sigh. I was never a fan of the character so to speak, but I thin we all in some way can relate to having our geeky moments or where we don't feel like "the cool one" in our group of friends. and for Dustin, that wasn't just a moment, that was his entire life. I don't agree with his forms of "retaliation" if we'll call them that, but I can certainly understand where he's coming from in the least.

Honestly though, if the other actors did watch the movie, I think they'd be surprised. They weren't shown in negative light, they were just shown as teenagers. Kids tease and say things that they don't think twice about, and don't realize the ones they're having fun with may be hurt or damaged by it. Even with the tension presented by Dustin and Mario in this, they still shared a handshake during the ending scene.

The past is the past, and I really think if Dustin just learns to forgive and let go, there's no reason why this "bad boy" act can't just be dropped and he can try to make amends. There is probably apologizing that should be done on all their parts. And as adults now, I'd really like to think they could let bygones be bygones, but I'm sure there are a lot of personal issues they need to work through and that takes time. I'm just a hopeful person and I want to believe all their hearts are in the right place.

[–] theworldastage 10 years ago

Oh thanks, I didn't see your reply!

Oh, I literally replied to your other post minutes before here so no worries! I don't expect anyone on these forums to always see replies anyway :) Just thought I'd mention it is all.

Honestly though, if the other actors did watch the movie, I think they'd be surprised. They weren't shown in negative light, they were just shown as teenagers.

Yep.

And to the last part of your post, it's too bad the Jimmy Fallon SBTB reunion didn't work out. I wonder if it would have if that book didn't come out, or if the book was only a piece of the puzzle. But it was fun to see Mark-Paul reenact Zack Morris. Though somehow People magazine got a layout of the five of them...

P.S. Forgot to mention I added a couple of things in my previous post.

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

I always wondered what happened to Jimmy's reunion, I know it was talked about and saw the Zack skit, but I'm not really a talk-show guy so I never knew what came of it. That's a shame, maybe in a few years the cast will all be on good terms and be able to work something out. Dustin has what it takes to be a good guy, but he's got a lot of personal demons that he needs to face. I think the cast realize that about him. But I don't think they'll go to their death beds holding grudges. I'd hope not, at least.

[–] dogluver1970 10 years ago

This recent SBTB movie was from his perspective, but was honestly really tame compared to his book. It showed the kids teasing and picking on him, but no drug use or anything. Honestly, I think this movie was his apology to them for all the stuff he's pulled in the last decades. Showing that all in all, they were just teenagers. Teenage stars no less with rising egos. But nothing they did was ever *personal,* and I think he's finally coming to terms that.

That could be, Occult (that he is,sorry for having bad-mouthed them), but unless I'm unaware of exactly what he contributed directly to this movie, it should be noted that while the movie was based on Dustin's book (and, at times, loosely, it seemed), the screenplay was written by some else (and since it was 'unauthorized,' who knows what was true and what wasn't).

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

Yeah I mean, I think the truth is, that none of us will ever really know the truth of it. Every cast member could write a tell-all book and it would only be what they're able to recollect from those years. Who can really remember in great detail all their moments as a youth?

Only the significant moments tend to stick out, and those would be based on really good memories, or really bad ones, and I doubt any of them want to get into the bad stuff since they're all doing fairly well, short of Dustin who relies on "Zack and Slater are gay" jokes.

I think it's safe to say that they all had their own experiences on the show, and I have to wonder how much different it would have been if Dustin had been two years older than the entire cast, rather than 2 years younger? Then he might be whining about "being surrounded by kids, feeling like I was constantly babysitting" or something.

[–] Simplythebest79424 9 years ago

Sounds like he was bullied.

Let's not sugarcoat it.

There's a stark contrast between joking with someone & actually ridiculing them.

He probably did grow up bitter due to being bullied.

It's understandable, but like with bullying, some people need to just move on & let the past be the past.

Bringing up the past as he has done doesn't seem to be making him feel better.

He was a geek, and still is a geek.

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

Thanks! Yeah, I mean like I said, I grew up with Saved by the bell. Sure looking back it's campy and such, but it holds some of my best memories. I hated school in real life, yet every Saturday I woke up excited to see what antics Zack and the gang were going to be up to (Until New Class came along. I was already in my teens by then and had outgrown it.) And I just think it sucks that now days, Dustin has done some things that has made the rest of the cast shun him. I'm an optimistic guy and want to believe that eventually it can all be put aside.

I can't support the choices Dustin has made, but I can understand his feeling a bit bitter about it all. The others all got to play the coolest of the cool kids at Bayside, and Screech was just the geek who sort of got progressively goofy and well, kind of stupid over the years. The same thing sort of happened to Will Friedle with Eric on Boy Meets World, but let's face it, he remained a fun and loved character the whole while.

Screech was written to be purposely annoying from the get-go. One thing I wish both the show and this movie would have explored his the origin of that nickname, we know how the writers came up with it, but imagine Dustin as a kid being told on screen by Zack, something like "Your voice is so annoying, it's like nails screeching on a chalkboard!" It would have gotten the typical audience laughter as a reaction, but how would Dustin have reacted to that? Sure as the series went on, he developed a high-pitched squeak for the character, but the first couple of seasons he was just talking as himself and sort of had a lisp. It'd be hard for a kid to not take that personal. Anyone who was ever called "geeky" during their school years could at least understand for a moment what it must have been like for Screech to live his everyday life, and for what it was like for Dustin to play that on a daily basis. Even when he guest starred on other shows, I hate to say that geeky essence of Screech tended to carry over.

I think that's why other characters cast as nerds these days (like the cast of Big Bang Theory) can't stress enough that this is just an acting gig. Johnny Galecki loves playing Leonard, but everyone who has met him says he's the characters polar opposite. Dustin really didn't have a chance to shed that imagine because Screech was all he had, every interview was about the character. It's a known rule in Hollywood that if you can book a gig without having to audition, you take it. And sadly, Screech just kept coming his way. Now days with his TV appearances and stand-up routines, I almost feel like he's trying to force himself to not be Screech, trying to play up the villain role or be raunchy and cussing in his act. It makes me wish he might have been given the shot at playing something out of his comfort zone. Could we see Dustin playing a disturbed serial killer type? Who knows, because he's never had that chance. But I like giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.

[–] JCrewgirl 10 years ago

True but the whole "poor me" thing in the movie was annoying as hell. But I agree it was pretty tame, in fact I thought Dustin himself looked worse then all of them.

Save the date: December 31, 2014 is Cassie's big day!!!

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

I do agree. Dustin does milk the "I was treated badly" tag quite a bit. He could have had it a lot worse, I mean he was never beat up by any of them or anything. Mark Paul admits he would lock him in the lockers, but he probably meant it as an all-in-good-fun kind of gesture. Not a "There, took care of that annoying little punk" way, which does seem to be how Dustin tended to take it. Above all else, they were just kids, and kids can be bullies without really realizing it sometimes.

[–] jessrena1982 10 years ago

the screech played on this one was cuter than the original screech

[–] iheartnormi 10 years ago

Agreed.

[–] Mattfinbell 10 years ago

but no one wanted him to make it.

I agree with everything else

Occult_Detective
The past is the past, and I really think if Dustin just learns to forgive and let go, there's no reason why this "bad boy" act can't just be dropped and he can try to make amends. There is probably apologizing that should be done on all their parts. And as adults now, I'd really like to think they could let bygones be bygones, but I'm sure there are a lot of personal issues they need to work through and that takes time. I'm just a hopeful person and I want to believe all their hearts are in the right place

well making this movie he has burned all and any bridges he had with any of the cast now even Hoskins.

Occult_Detective

I always wondered what happened to Jimmy's reunion, I know it was talked about and saw the Zack skit, but I'm not really a talk-show guy so I never knew what came of it. That's a shame, maybe in a few years the cast will all be on good terms and be able to work something out. Dustin has what it takes to be a good guy, but he's got a lot of personal demons that he needs to face. I think the cast realize that about him. But I don't think they'll go to their death beds holding grudges. I'd hope not, at least

Oh this is hollywood! lol

Occult_Detective

I think that's why other characters cast as nerds these days (like the cast of Big Bang Theory) can't stress enough that this is just an acting gig. Johnny Galecki loves playing Leonard, but everyone who has met him says he's the characters polar opposite. Dustin really didn't have a chance to shed that imagine because Screech was all he had, every interview was about the character. It's a known rule in Hollywood that if you can book a gig without having to audition, you take it. And sadly, Screech just kept coming his way. Now days with his TV appearances and stand-up routines, I almost feel like he's trying to force himself to not be Screech, trying to play up the villain role or be raunchy and cussing in his act. It makes me wish he might have been given the shot at playing something out of his comfort zone. Could we see Dustin playing a disturbed serial killer type? Who knows, because he's never had that chance. But I like giving everyone the benefit of the doubt.

But look at Anotheny Micheal hall he shed his nerdniess. You dont want to burn your bridges since they can lead into another job. He blow them UP!

The only parts I believe are the parts Dustin was in. Everything else is suspect

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

See I actually don't think he has burned bridges. Lark mentioned in a recent video that she just spoke to him and actually does intend to watch the movie. And I mean, honestly, Dustin is the only one we're shown doing bad things. It's been said for years that "the rest of the cast was screwing and doing drugs" but in the movie Dustin is the only one to be shown smoking pot. Mark and Tiffany are seen drinking wine but, that's about it. It really does seem like this was meant to show the others in an at least somewhat positive light. While it does seem like he's been bitter over the years, it might be the time where he's finally just getting over it.

[–] Mattfinbell 10 years ago

I do agree about his bitterness

Well I think Lark Forgave him

well drinking wine a little bit is good for you

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

Yeah at the end of this all, they're all adults now. Whatever happened or didn't happen back when, they were just kids. Kids can be cruel and insensitive on purpose or without even realizing they're being hurtful. It's all been said and done and honestly, the movie seems to show that Dustin has made peace with that. It would be cool to see the entire cast assembled at least one last time, bygones being bygones.

[–] Mattfinbell 10 years ago

I dont know about that one since Elizebeth Mario and Mark wont watch it and dennis is at odds with Dustin

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

True fact. Though Lark herself posted on Twitter that she refused to watch it and then changed her mind after speaking to Dustin. So is it absolutely impossible for a positive outcome?

[–] Mattfinbell 10 years ago

who the heck knows

Occult_Detective
Thanks! Just really hoping that in the end, those of us who grew up with the show and these people might one day be able to say bygones be bygones. As a kid myself, I had a couple bullies that as of now, I'm actually good friends with. Kids will be kids but adults should be able to forget and forgive, life is too short to hold grudges.

But it continues to happen all the time

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

Lol, yes it does. I held a few when I was younger, but we all grow up and get over it eventually. I'd like to hope in the future the SBTB cast does too.

[–] Mattfinbell 10 years ago

then why is Mario Elizebeth not watching it?

some wounds go too deep

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

They've said they have no interest in watching it since they lived it and have their own memories of how it happened. They probably figure it's just a movie that bad-mouths them from start to finish since it's all from Dustin's POV. But who knows? Lark may view it and then discuss with them how that's not the case whatsoever. I'm 100% positive it's true that they have no interest in watching it, but is it absolutely impossible that one day they might? Are the chances that we'll actually see pigs flying, before the day comes that the rest of the cast views the film? I doubt that, Lol.

[–] Mattfinbell 10 years ago

See!

I know they wont.

Even if it does put Mark in a good light.

like I said it burned bridges with what he did. I thought it was really going to be the REAL story of saved by the bell

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

I wouldn't place my money on knowing for a fact what any of the cast members will or won't do. If it really burned all these bridges then I doubt they would continue to speak to him, which Lark and Mario have both claimed they have recently.

[–] Mattfinbell 10 years ago

If thats the case why wont the see the movie?

Celebs are so contradicate eachother all the time! you know

Daniel Radcliffe I dont smoke

Smokes HERBAL ciggrattes

Devon Murray I dont smoke

Then tells people on Twitter he does

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

At the end of the day, celebrities are people too. And people tend to change their minds from time to time, sometimes for no given reason. Mario and Elizabeth have stated they have no interest in seeing it, just like Lark did. Lark changed her mind, so how could anyone know, for a fact and without doubt, that the others wouldn't either? One day they could just get morbid curiosity and see what all the fuss is about. Mario himself is coming out with a memoir, so maybe we'll get his definitive answer there. Overall, I truly do believe one event could be remembered and told six different ways by six different kids, so no matter how this movie turned out, it was never going to be the way the rest of them recall the events. Especially since it was from Dustin's perspective.

[–] Mattfinbell 10 years ago

Occult_Detective
At the end of the day, celebrities are people too. And people tend to change their minds from time to time, sometimes for no given reason.

TRUE

Mario and Elizabeth have stated they have no interest in seeing it, just like Lark did. Lark changed her mind, so how could anyone know, for a fact and without doubt, that the others wouldn't either? One day they could just get morbid curiosity and see what all the fuss is about. Mario himself is coming out with a memoir, so maybe we'll get his definitive answer there. Overall, I truly do believe one event could be remembered and told six different ways by six different kids, so no matter how this movie turned out, it was never going to be the way the rest of them recall the events. Especially since it was from Dustin's perspective.

come on!!?!??! Its not that different. Your almost saying that story about the blind guys never guessing what they were touching was an elephant.

They just got part of the elephant story right

[–] Simplythebest79424 9 years ago

I doubt any of the cast really likes him.

It doesn't sound like it EXCEPT maybe Dennis H., but he was an adult and NOT a peer, so that may be why he & DD are still friends.

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

Thanks! Just really hoping that in the end, those of us who grew up with the show and these people might one day be able to say bygones be bygones. As a kid myself, I had a couple bullies that as of now, I'm actually good friends with. Kids will be kids but adults should be able to forget and forgive, life is too short to hold grudges.

[–] folse431 10 years ago

http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/24408/saved-by-the-bell-facts/

[–] Occult_Detective 10 years ago

Yep, pretty much nails it Lol.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]